Camera tripod head



May 31, 1949. R1. NI ELSEN 2, 7

CAMERA TRIPOD HEAD Filed July 5, 1946 ie /V 18 w fiiquxw Patented May 31, 1949 UNITED STATES *1" OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to camera tripod heads and included in the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a camera tripod head adapted to be interposed between a conventional tripod and a camera and designed so that it may be adjusted with great facility so that a minimum of time is lost in orienting the camera in the desired direction, thus providing a device which is particularly suitable in the situations wherein the camera must be set-up and directed under conditions in which the time element is a dominant factor.

Second, to provide a camera tripod head interposed between a conventional tripod and its camera to permit adjustment of the camera angle even though in setting up the tripod its mounting face is not horizontal.

Third, to provide a camera tripod head which incorporates a novel and effective clamp means whereby the camera may be firmly secured in any selected position.

With the above and other objects in View as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a reduced elevational View of a camera and its tripod with my tripod head interposed therebetween.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of my tripod head.

Figure 3 is a partial elevational, partial sectional View thereof taken through 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view thereof taken through 4l4 of Figure 3.

The conventional tripod indicated by A in Figure l is provided with a mounting plate B through which extends a screw adapted to thread into a hole provided in a camera C. My mounting head is interposed between the tripod and the camera and includes a base fitting l adapted to rest on the mounting plate B. The base fitting is provided with a central upwardly directed journal 2 into which extends a threaded socket 3 adapted to receive the conventional screw carried by the mounting plate B.

A collar t rests on the base fitting l and rotates about the journal 2. The journal is provided with a groove 5 and a set screw 6 extends through the collar 4 and into the groove 5.

The collar 4 is provided with a clutch bore 1 extending at right angles to and laterally offset from the axis of the journal 2. The clutch bore 1 intersects a side [of the central opening of the collar 4 so that a portion of the journal 2 is exposed to the bore 7. The clutch bore 1 receives a stem 8 threaded at one extremity and provided 2 with a handle 9 at its other extremity. The stem 3 receives a clutch sleeve H) which bears against a shoulder H at the juncture of the stem 8 and handle 9. The extremity of the stem 8 receives a clutch nut I2.

Operation of the clutch formed by the stem 8, clutch sleeve lo and clutch nut l 2 will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Extending upwardly from the collar 4 is a pair of supports it which form a yoke and is connected by a shaft M. The shaft M is secured against rotation relative to the supports I3 by means of pins 95.

A. mounting block l6 having a bore l'l adapted to fit the shaft It extends between the supports it. The mounting block is adapted to rotate on the shaft it and is provided with a clutch bore 58 extending at right angles to the shaft M in offset relation thereto. A stem l9 extends into the bore l8 and is provided with a clutch sleeve 2t and clutch nut 2!. A handle 22 extends from the stern l9 and forms a shoulder against which the clutch sleeve 20 bears. The confronting ends of the clutch sleeve 26) and clutch nut 2i are beveled at their lower sides as indicated by 23 to engage the shaft M. The beveled faces 23 serve to prevent rotation of the clutch sleeve and clutch nut when the stem I9 is rotated so that these faces may be drawn together or moved apart as the stem is rotated in order to grip or release the shaft M.

The clutch means between the base fitting I and collar d is provided with. similar beveled faces 23., not shown. so that the first-described clutch structure functions in the same manner as the later described clutch structure.

The upper portion of the mounting block [6 backwardly, that is. in the direction of the handle 22 and is provided with a transverse slot Secured to the upper side of the mounting block by screws 25 and covering the slot 24 is a top plate 26 having a hole therethrough which admits the threaded stem 21 of a thumb screw 28. the head of which is contained within the slot The diameter of the thumb screw is larger than. the width of the block I6 so that it be readily engaged in order that the stem may be screwed into the bottom of the camera.

My mounting head is employed as follows:

The clutch between the collar 4 and the journal 2 is adjusted to provide sufiicient friction to enable the collar d to remain in any set position, but preferably not tight enough to prevent rotation of the collar, by use of the handle 22 which is preferably relatively long to provide ample leverage. By moving the handle 22 laterally, angular adjustment of the camera is obtained and by raising or lowering the handle 22 the camera may be tilted up or down. This is done with the clutch which connects the mounting block It to the shaft M in a loosened condition. When the desired camera angle is obtained, a slight turn of the handle 22 looks the mounting block IE on its shaft. It will thus be seen that the camera may be readily and quickly directed in" the manner desired.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A camera tripod head, comprising: a base member adapted for attachment'to a tripod and having an upstanding journal; a lower body member revolubly mounted on said journal; an

upper body member; hinge means connecting 'saidiupperbody memb'er"tdsaid lower body member: fonmovement about: a horizontal axis, said means: including a journal; means defining a :passagewayextending ilT'OffSBt transverse relation to the axis of each of said journals; a: clutch means for each journahincluding a clutch stem extending into each: passageway, a clutch sleeve journalled on. said: stem a clutch nut threaded on :saidxs-tem; the confronting ends of each nut and its sleeve being beveled for'engagement' with their corresponding'journal', each of said clutch means adapted-:to-be tightened or loosened by rotation of its stem.

2. A camera tripod head, comprising: a pair of: body members; a hinge'including a horizontal: journalshaft secured in one body member and rotatably supporting theother of said body'members,.said other body member having a 'bore'traversin'g the axis of said journal in substantially having an upstanding journal; a collar fitting saidrjournal, and including an upwardly directed pair of supports; a journal shaft secured to and extendingib'etween said supports; a block including.meansfcrsattachment to a camera, a bearing journal and defining a transverse hora-offset from the axis of said journal; a handle member including a stem extending into said bore; a sleeve on said: stem; a nut threaded on the extremityofi saidstem, the confronting ends of saidsleeve. and nut being: beveled andposi tioned'to-b'ear against-the journal shaft of said hinge'and: restrained thereby against rotation whereby upon rotation of saidstem said sleeve and nut are toward and away from each other to bind or release said-ijour-nal: shaft.

7 RALPH I; NIELSEN-.1

R EFERENCE-Sv CITED- The following references are of record in the file or thispat'ent':

UNITED STATES PATENTS Numben Name Date 1,138,368 Feeley 'May 4, 1915 1:,9481155 Thalhammer Feb; 20, 1934 253185910: :Z'ucker. May 11', 1943 

